Cambridge University Library

Classification

Open access materials

One of the things readers at Cambridge University Library most appreciate is the ability to wander amongst the bookstacks and retrieve material for themselves. Nevertheless, this is not a library where browsing is either easy or very efficient. Only one third of the collections are on open access, and open access material is arranged not only by subject, but also by size and by date of publication. The classification scheme has been revised and expanded over the years, with the result that two books on an identical subject can be classified in different places. Many books in series, moreover, are arranged with the series rather than under subject. If you are looking for material by a specific author or on a specific topic, you should always approach your search via the name or subject catalogue. See the PDF "A Beginner's Guide to Newton"

The Library's classification scheme is very idiosyncratic, the inheritance of past generations of librarians. In some areas it is very specific, in others very general. Items about Spanish language, for example, are mixed up with all other Romance languages except French. Until recently there was no distinctive number for cinema, and still no attempt is made to arrange film books by country or linguistic area. What follows, therefore, is an attempt to pinpoint those parts of the classification scheme which relate specifically to Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries.

Spanish literature (743-744)

As with the schemes for other major European languages, Spanish literary texts are divided by genre and by period. Texts are followed by related criticism. If an author writes fiction, plays and poetry, his or her work will be classified in three different places. No division is made between the literature of Spain and that of Latin America, so texts by Isabel Allende and Juan Goytisolo will stand side by side. Period subdivisions are fairly arbitrary - To 1500, 1500-1700, 1701-1820 and 1821-1950. A further subdivision for 1951- was introduced in the mid 1980s. Spanish poetry is placed between 743·2 and 743·4, drama between 743·6 and 743·8, fiction between 744·2 and 744·4, and prose other than fiction between 744·6 and 744·8.

Catalan literature

Texts stand ar 745·7 (To 1500) and 745·74 (1500-), criticism at 745·72 and 745·75.

Portuguese literature (745·01-745·35)

Texts from Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique and Angola stand together, with no attempt at geographical subdivision. Galician literature is also placed here. Classification by genre is applied, but no distinction is made between fiction and other prose. There are only two chronological subdivisions, for texts written before and after 1650.

Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan language (773)

Items are placed together, and mixed with works on Romance languages in general, and with all other specific Romance languages except French.

Spanish history (582-584)

Classification of Spanish history incorporates a fairly detailed chronological breakdown. Works on medieval Spain are placed between 582·2 and 582·35. Works on modern Spain are arranged as follows:-

582.4 1516- History, general
582.42 1479-1516 Ferdinand and Isabella, the `Catholic Kings'
582.45 1516-1556 Charles I (aka Emperor Charles V). For biography of Charles I, see 571.24
582.5 1556-1598 Philip II
582.54   Biography of later 16th century Spain
582.56 17th century Philip III, 1598-1621. Philip IV, 1621-1665. Charles II, 1665-1700
582.6 18th century Bourbon dynasty, 1700-1808; Philip V, 1700-1746. Ferdinand VI, 1746-1759. Charles III, 1759-1788. Charles IV, 1788-1808
582.64   Spanish Succession. For the War of the Spanish Succession, see 533.36
582.66   Biography of the 18th century
582.7 19th century general
582.72 1808-1814 Napoleonic period. For the Peninsular war, see 562.5
582.74 1814-1868 Bourbon restoration
582.8 1833-1840 Carlist movements (The pretenders Don Carlos I, II and III)
582.83 1868-1931 Revolution, 1868-1870. Amadeo I, 1870-1873. First Republic, 1873-1875. Alfonso XII, 1875-1885. Alfonso XIII, 1886-1931
582.87   Biography of the 19th century
583.1 1931- Revolution. Spanish Republic
583.12 1936-1975 Spanish Civil War. Franco
583.13 1976- 'Transicion'. Juan Carlos I

Although very detailed classification schedules exist for local histories of France, Germany and Italy, for some quite inexplicable reason the same degree of detail is not attached to Spain. Catalonia (584·33), Valencia (584·37), Andorra (584·6) and the Balearic Islands (584·62) have individual numbers, but all other regional histories stand at 584·3, with histories of Galicia, the Andalusia and Castille all grouped together.

Portuguese history (585)

Works on the history of Portugal are arranged by period. Local history stands at 585:8; constitutional history stands at 585:9. There are separate entries for the Azores (585:83), Madeira (585:86) and the colonies collectively (585:95).

585.3 To 1580 Early to medieval
585.32 1580-1640 Spanish dynasty
585.34 1640-1816 House of Braganza
585.36 1816-1910 19th century
585.4 1910 onwards 20th century: Revolution, 1910. First Republic, 1910-1926. Salazar, 1926-1968.
585.5 1968- Caetano, 1968-1974. Revolution, 1974-1975. Democratic regime, 1976-

Latin American and Caribbean history (670-676)

General works on Latin America are placed at 670:8; constitutional history of Latin America stands at 670:88. Books on the discovery and exploration of the Americas stand between 660:01 and 660:55. There are separate classes for the Andes (673:2), the Pacific Coast (673:22) and the Atlantic Coast (673:24), as well as Northern South America (673:26), and Southern South America (673:28), when two or more countries are represented collectively.
The classification of Mexico (670:01-670:7), Brazil (675:1-675:45) and Argentina (676:1-676:37) is more detailed than that of the other Latin American countries for historical reasons. Works on the Caribbean stand at 672. An outline of the main classes for these areas is given in the table below.

670.01-670.7 Mexico
671.01-671.8 Central America
672.1-672.9 Caribbean
674.1-674.2 Colombia
674.3-674.4 Venezuela
675.1-675.45 Brazil
675.5-675.53 Ecuador
675.7-675.73 Peru
676.1-676.37 Argentina
676.4-676.55 Chile
676.6-676.65 Bolivia
676.7-676.75 Paraguay
676.8-676.85 Uruguay